Each year, hundreds of thousands of people drop in on Austin for the city's South by Southwest Festival, some armed with iPads, others with lighters (to hold up at concerts, of course). If you're planning to be in town March 11-20, be prepared for tons of energy—but also long waits and huge crowds. For a breather, skip what's sure to be a packed house at the

JW Marriott Austin ’s Corner Bar and the line of lemmings at the latest food truck on South Congress, and unwind at one of these restful hideouts that are near the action, but not in it. In other words, where the locals will be hanging out.

Alta’s Café

It’s around the corner from the Austin Convention Center—the heart of SXSW Interactive—yet this coffee shop and wine bar manages to stay blissfully under the radar. A sprawling patio overlooks Lady Bird Lake, a peaceful perch for your morning latte. Alta’s is also a great spot to sample local provisions—breakfast tacos from city staple Tacodeli; scones from farmers’ market favorite Cake and Spoon—that you might not have time to try otherwise. In the evening, snag a picnic table and a glass of wine (the Austrian Veltliner is a crisp spring sip) and take in a Texas sunset. You’ll also see Austin’s famous bat population, 1.5 million strong, fly out from under nearby Congress Bridge at dusk.

Vespaio Ristorante

Vespaio on any given weeknight and you’re usually in for an hour wait. There is one exception—SXSW weeks. This is curious, given Vespaio’s address: Located on South Congress, just blocks from the popular South by South Jose pop-up stage and the iconic Continental Club, the restaurant couldn’t be closer to the heart of the festival's music scene. Still, special-occasion prices and the romantic, let-you-linger atmosphere is contrary to the grab-and-go mindset of most concertgoers. Slow down with a couple of bottles of Nebbiolo alongside dishes such as the deep-heated Cacio e Pepe or generous plate of lasagna, made with a veal, beef, and pork Bolognese.

VOX Table

VOX Table 's location—the backside of an apartment building—might seem unintuitive to visitors, city residents think of the new Lamar Union address as an up-and-coming dining village (one with free valet and garage parking, to boot). The best meal in the cheerful, light-filled space is brunch: Eggs Benedict gets an upgrade thanks to Yorkshire pudding and a heaping pile of crab; olive oil pancakes come with a schmear of fig and walnut butter. Chef Joe Anguiano, who worked in the kitchen at Zuberoa in San Sebastian and at

The Bazaar by José Andrés in L.A. is also known around town for his house-made charcuterie and wood-fired Gulf oysters. Arrive in time for happy hour (5-6:30 P.M.) when select cocktails are $6 and wines by the glass are half off.

The view from the Greenbelt

Getty

The Greenbelt

Austin is blessed, as southerners like to say, with ample green space such as the downtown hike and bike trail around Lady Bird Lake. What is less well known, and almost as easily accessible, is the Greenbelt, an 832-acre nature reserve crisscrossed with trails. Barton Creek meanders through the native forest and over limestone boulders, swelling into swimming holes where occasional sunbathers jump in and cool off. If you want to make an afternoon of it, pop into Thom’s Market, close to some of the Greenbelt’s neighborhood trailheads, for picnic provisions.

Cuvée Coffee

This local roaster is Austin’s version of Stumptown. Cafes all over town grind their beans, but this industrial space, with mural-painted walls and a glass garage door, is

Cuvée Coffee ’s only dedicated brick and mortar. While it’s located in East Austin, very much in the mix of the SXSW music scene, the café stays quiet. This is largely because it’s a tech dead zone—they mindfully don’t offer Wi-Fi. As a result, you might spot something curious: People pairing the house Meritage espresso—with lovely chocolate and orange zest notes—with a book or face-to-face conversation.

Umlauf Sculpture Garden

Not super hungry, but want a peaceful place to take a time-out? Head to the

Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum, located off of Barton Springs in central Austin, where you'll be close enough to hear music in the distance, but far enough to take a breather from the crowds. The four-acre property is shaded with native live oak, cottonwood, and pecan trees, but it's the art that will really draw you in. Sculptures—both permanent works in bronze and limestone by Charles Umlauf, and rotating exhibits (currently a show on the late Jesús Moroles, best known for his 22-foot Lapstrake sculpture in New York, through March 13)—dot the grounds, as do succulent gardens. It’s easy to find a quiet meditation corner to call your own, or you can join an outdoor yoga class ($15) held three times a week.